[MD] The Origins of Virtue

[kieffer odigaunt]

Am halfway through an interesting book of that name by Matt Ridley. It's a
difficult but enticing read about the apparent contradiction of how
altruistic behaviour can be the most selfish policy. Greedy people are
despised, whereas altruists are praised; but if a friend becomes too
altruistic, too giving, you may advise them to be a little more selfish. As
in the famous 'Prisoner's Dilemma', if other people are altruistic that may
be good for me, but if i am selfish that can also be good for me. The point
of the Prisoner's Dilemma is that we should attract the right partners and
leave the selfish rationalists to their fate. Societies are the inevitable
side-effects of people striving for their own self-interest. The virtuous
attract others who are virtuous for mutual benefit.

-KO